Crucible-steel-melting furnace



June 2, 1925.

P. A. CUENOT` CRUCIBLE STEED MELTING FURNACE."

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 8, 1922 ATTO RN EYS.

P. A. CUENOT Filed Aug. 8. l92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR:

l l l /y v ATTORNEYS.

Patented lune f2, 1925.

riiisis sy ATENT Fries.

rent A. cuENoT, or nenmsisune, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRUCIBLE-STEEL-MELTING 3:"URNACE.

Application led August 8, 1922. SerialNo. 580,387.`

Crucible is located in an enclosing heating chamber and is not disturbed until it has burnt out or lost its usefulness, the molten metal being tapped `from the bottom of the l Crucible and run directinto the ingot pinold which is directly under the Crucible, lwhere-` by thejlite ofthe Crucible `is greatly pro` longed and at the saine time a better control` fof themolten metal in the crucibleis ati Non line 4 4 Figure 1.

a torded. i 1 ,l

It further consists in a novel manner of positioning the ingot mold with-respect` to the bottom of the combustion chamber and of a novel `construction whereby `the molten CII the Crucible and `run direct into the ingot mold directly under the Crucible, said ingot reception ott compressed air whereby the ingot mold is keptcool so as to freeze the.

.metal as quickly as possible. n n Y It further consists ot novel means :tor exhausting oi mechanically i withdrawing the gases` and heat :troni the upper portion ot the ingot `inold by means of a vacuum pump;

or itsV equivalent. i i i 1 It further Consists ot a novel collo-cation of hydraulic ram, ingot mold, combustion 4 chamber, Crucible and` heating chamber cient structure is produced. i

A further objectof my invention is to produce a more uniform metal than can now be made in the present methodot inelt-` ing cast steelby the present Crucible processes. i 3 i It further Consists ot other novel features ot Construction and advantage, all as will? be hereinafter fully set forth.` For the purpose of illustrating` my invenmetal is tapped directly :troin the bottom ot` therefor, whereby a very compact andetli.

tion, `l have shown in the accompanying` drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satisfactory andreliable results,

although it is to be understood that the` various instruinentalities otwhichimy invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that iny invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization ot these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional bodying my invention. Figure 2 represents F igure 1.

Figure 3 represents on line 3-3 Figure 1.

Figure t represents a atop plan view o t a horizontal section horizontal section n Figure 5 represents on line 5-5 Figure 1. i

Figure 6 `represents ahorizontal section on line 6-6 Figurel.`

Similar numerals 'of i reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures. `Referring to the drawings. i

l designates my novel construction of Crucible steel melt-ing furnace, the saine coinprising `a. suitable supporting framework or base' 2, above which is located the hori-` zontal supporting wall Bftor the base 4l ol the combustion chamber 5, which is contained between the inner and outer walls 6 and. 7. `Uponthe walls 6 and 7 is supportedtlie horizontal wall 8, which supports the Crucible 9, the latter having aplug l() in the `bottom thereof which keeps` the holeI at thebotton'i ot' the Crucible sealed until the iinetal in the Crucible is ready" to be tapped. i

` 11 designates a plug or cover over the top 37 of the furnace to enable the criicible 9 to be recharged, and 12 designates afplug that can bereadily removed from the cover 11 at any time when it isydesired to look into the Crucible and `also totakeout test specimens, when required. i 1 n 13 designates the rod that is employedto kick out the plug l() when the. molten metal in the Crucible 9 is readyto be pourediinto the ingot mould 14, said rod being `provided with a suitable handle at itslower portion. The ingot mould 14 is coi'nposed ofthe annular wall 15 and the loose bot# a horizontal section VView of a Crucible steel melting furnace, eme vorifices 22 of the circular Ypipe 23,

tom plate 16, said mould being held 'up against the bottom 4 of the combustion chamber 5 by means of the hydraulic ram the reception of. compressed air which isl discharged into them from the portsor it being apparent that this coldv air impingingupon the outside ofthek ingot mould uniformly 4upon ally portions thereof and escaping at the upper orifices 24 at thel top of thefshell 2O will freeze or solidify the molten metal, as rapidly as possible, so as to avoidpiping or segregation of the metal in the ingot,"said cold air being received in the chamber or space 38 within vthe shell 20, Y

25 designates a hole in the wall 7 which permits theingress of the-heating medium from the burner 26 the fuel used bei-ng gas or oil. The heating chamber 27 around the Crucible 9 is formed within the walls 28, in which is a sight opening 29 to said heating chamber to determine the dieuired flame, which should be either a reducing` fiame or complete combustion of the fuel used, the cover 37 beingsupported upon said walls.

30 designates fines leading A from Lthe combustion chamber 5 to the heating chamber 27,-th'e position'of said flues being best understood Y from Figure 3. c

31 designates flues leading from the heating chamber to the atmosphere which are best seen in Figure 2. v32 designatesa passageway for the inoltenmetal to dropfrom the Crucibler 9 into `the ingot mould -14 when the plug 10 in alignment with said passageway is kicked out of its position lseen inl Figure 1 1n the crucible,`wlien the metal in said Crucible is melted andv readyv to be poured into the ingot mould.

1n order to reniovethe gases and to dissipate the heat in the ingot mould '14 when Vmetal is being poured ffroin theV crucible Vthereinto, I employ an exhaust fan or a vacuum pump of any suitable or con-verr-v tional type, and withdraw the heatY and gases from the upper portion of the ingot mould through the pa-ssage'-33and pipe 34 vto the atmosphere, any suitable type of vacu` umpump or exhausting Ydevice being eniployed for this purpose whichit is unneces-` sary to describe in detail.

rllhe loose plate 16 that the ingot mould sets on v is provided at its bottom with grooves 35 which are luted with clay so as to seal the joint between the ingot mould and said plate. that comes in Contact with the bottom 4 of the combustion chamber 5 is also luted with The top of the ingot mouldy clay as indicated at 36 for the same purpose. f Y

It will be apparent from the foregoing that thev crucible 9, the passageway 32 leading therefrom, the ingot mould, and the hydraulic ram are arranged in vertical alignment, so that a verycompa-ct and efficient structure is produced and space is greatly economized.

The operation is as follows Theplug 11 having been removed from the cover 37, the plug` 10 is placed in the position seen in Figure 1 at the bottom of the Crucible, being luted with clay.V The crucible 9 is then charged vwith'the proper ingredients. The burner 25 is lit and a pyrometer is provided in the heating Vchamber 27 Y to Vdetermine the 'heat therein and the pouring temperature of the molten metal. The plug 11 is then placed in position, being luted with clay to makev a seal at the joint between the top 37 and said plug. The plug 12 can be removed when desired so as Vto examine the contents ofy the Crucible vand to make tests when desired. vrlihe ingot mould 14 withr the bottom plate 16 and shell 2 0 is set upon the ramv 17 and pressure is admitted to' the cylinder 13 Vso as to raise the ram and bring the ingot mold up against ,the bottom 4 of the furnace. I

Y When the metal in the crucible has arrived at the proper melting point-oil temperature, the rod 13 is aut in place and pushed upwardly Iand the plug 10 is pushed out of' its position seen inV Figure '1. rlhis allows the molten metal in the crucible to drop intoA the Aingot mould 14'tlirough the passageway 32. The compressed air admitted tothe circular pipe 23 cools the metal in the ingot mould as quickly as possible and: simultaneously the gases Vfrom'the ingot mould are exhausted by means of the vacuum pump and the passages 33 and 34. lVhen the ingothas solidified, theram 17 canr be lowered together with the ingot mould 14 and its shell 2O 'and the ingot can then be takenout.

The operation is repeated and in this way the heat-ing chamber 27 does not get cold as .the burner 26 Vmay always be kept in operation 'being regulated to suit conditions.

Y It will be seen'from rthe foregoing vthat `my novel furnace will melt steel in a crucilll) matic Conditions, `since the passageway 32 is withinand surrounded by the combustion chamber 5. Y i i i f f It will further be vapparent in my n ovel construction of furnace that byproviding the ingot mould `with an outer shell 2O a i Cold air Chamber 38 is formed, into which upon.

Cold air can be forced so as effectively to surround and Cool the ingot mould, so as to freeze the metalas `quickly as possible to avoid segregation and pipe in the ingot, and means are further provided to dissipate the gases and heat from the upper portion of the ingot mould by the vacuum pump or other equivalent exhausting device, so that a more uniform metal is produced by my device than can be made under the present methods of melting Cast steel by the present Crucible process.

It will be apparent that in accordance with my present invention, I am able by means of a pyrometer to determine not only the temperature in the heating Chamber but also if desired the temperature in the crucible itself by inserting the pyi'ometer in lieu of the testing plug l2. i

It will also be apparent that I can charge the Crucible 9y with moltenmetal ifdesired so that a continuous Cycle can be Carried out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a furnace of the character described, a stationary Crucible having an outlet at its bottom, a plug for sealing said outlet, a heating chamber surrounding said Crucible,

an ingot mould in Vertical alignment with i said Crucible, a passageway leading directly from said outlet to said ingot mould, and a combustion chamber surrounding said passageway.

2. In a furnace of the character described,

a stationary Crucible having an outlet at its bottom, a plug for sealing said outlet, an ingot mould in alignment with said crnci ble and a passageway leading directly from said outlet to said ingot mould, in Combination with means for exhausting gases from said ingot mould.`

8. In a furnace of the character described, a stationary Crucible having an outlet at its bottom, a plug for sea-ling said outlet, an

ingot mould in vertical alignment with said Crucible, a passageway leading directly from said outlet to said ingotinould, anda combustion chamber surrounding said passage way, in Combination with means for exhausting gases from said ingot mould.`

5; In a furnace` of the character described, a stationary crucible having an outlet at its bottom, a plug for sealing said outlet, a heating chamber surrounding `said Crucible, an ingot mould in vertical alignment with `said Crucible, a passageway leading directly from said outlet to said ingot mould, and a Combustion chamber surrounding said passageway, .in Combination with means for exhausting gases from said ingot mould, and

means for cooling the exterior of said ingot mould by the impingement of Jets of compressed air thereupon.

6.V In a device of the character stated, the combination of a stationary Crucible having a hole in its bottom, a plug therefor, an ingot mould below said Crucible and in vertical alignment therewith, a. vertical passagewa)7 leading directly from said Crucible to said ingot mould, a Closure for the bots` tom of said ingot mould, means for holding the latter against the bottom of the coinbustion chamber, an outer shell for said ingotmouldhaving ports peripherally arranged in the bottom thereof, and an annular Compressed air pipe surrounding the lower portion of said shell and having dis` charge o riiices in line with said ports for .discharging compressed air against the outer periphery of said ingot mould for Cooling the latter.

7. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a stationary crucible having a hole in its bottom, aV plug therefor, an ingot mould below said Crucible and in ver tical alignment therewith, avertical passageway leading directly from said Crucible to Saidingot mould, a closure for the but tom of said ingot mould, means forholding the latter against the bottom of the combustion chamber, an outer shell for said ingot mould having ports peripberally arranged in the bottom thereof, an annular Comv pressed air pipe surrounding the lower portion of said shell and having discharge crifices in alignment with said port for discharging Coinpressed air against thc outer the latter, in Combina-tion with means for exhausting gases from the upper portion of said ingot mould. v

8. In a device of the Character stated,

a stationary Crucible having a hole in its bottom, a plug therefor, an ingot mould below said Crucible and in vertical alignment therewith, a vertical passageway leading directly ,from said` Crucible to said ingot mould, means for raising and lowering said ingot mould, an annular shell in said ingot `periphery of said ingot mould for cooling mould and vhaving exhaust` ports for com-` pressed air at its upper portion, and inlet. ports for compressed ail at its lower portion, said inlet ports being` circuni'feientia'lly arranged, and an annular Compressed all' pipe having orifices aligning with said lower inlet ports for dischalfgng compiessedair thereinto.

9. In a device combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel thereinto, a heating chamber above Vsaid combustion chamber, lues connecting said chambers, a statonafu'y ciucible supported ofA the character stated, a

on the base of vsaid heat-ing chambery and having .a hole in its bottom, a plug therefor, a downwardly exten-ding passageway extending through said combustion chamber and in Aalignment with said hole, van inclined passageextending through the Walls oi said combustion chamber, and a rod adapted lo be inserted' therein for dislodging said plug from said hole. Y

PAUL A. CUENQ'IX Witnesses: f Y

E. HAYWARD FAfUumN'KS, C. D. MOV/yi'.v 

